bach
C2/RareInformal, colloquial, slightly dated.
Definition
Meaning
To live alone temporarily, especially in a rudimentary or makeshift way, without the usual domestic comforts, often while a partner or family is away.
1. To live as a bachelor, implying a self-sufficient but sometimes unrefined lifestyle. 2. (Informal, especially NZ) A small, modest holiday house, often near water or in the countryside (pronounced /bætʃ/).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as a verb. Connotes improvisation, self-sufficiency, and a temporary lapse from normal domestic standards (e.g., eating simple food). The New Zealand noun sense is a distinct, culturally specific term.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The verb 'to bach' is understood but very rarely used in modern AmE, where 'bachelor' as a verb is virtually extinct. In NZE, 'bach' is a common noun for a holiday home.
Connotations
In BrE, it has a slightly old-fashioned, humorous connotation of a man 'roughing it'. In AmE, it is largely unknown. The NZ noun has positive connotations of leisure and escape.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both BrE and AmE as a verb. The NZ noun is high frequency within New Zealand.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] baches[Subject] is baching[Subject] bached (it) while [NP] was awayVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bach it”
- “bachelor it”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Rare, used humorously among older speakers to describe a spouse's absence. 'I'll have to bach it for a fortnight while she's visiting her sister.'
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- When his wife goes to the conference, he'll just bach it for a few days, living on takeaways.
- My grandfather used to bach in that old cottage before he married.
American English
- (Very rare) He said he'd just bach it at the cabin until we got back.
adjective
British English
- He lived a bach existence for years before settling down.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- While his family was on holiday, he had to bach it for two weeks.
- They rented a small bach by the lake for the summer. (NZ sense)
- Accustomed to his wife's excellent cooking, he found baching a rather grim experience of instant noodles and unwashed dishes.
- The traditional Kiwi bach is a cherished part of New Zealand's cultural heritage.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BACHelor living in a HUTCH – he's 'bach-ing' it, living simply.
Conceptual Metaphor
TEMPORARY SOLITUDE IS A RETURN TO PRIMITIVE LIVING.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with the composer Johann Sebastian Bach (pronounced /bɑːx/).
- The noun 'bach' in NZ English does not mean 'дача' in the Russian sense of a productive garden plot; it is purely a leisure/holiday house, often by the beach.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in formal contexts.
- Pronouncing it like the composer's name (/bɑːx/).
- Assuming it is common in modern American English.
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'bach' a common noun for a holiday home?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is derived from 'bachelor'. It originally meant to live like a bachelor, i.e., alone and without domestic organisation.
It is pronounced /bætʃ/ (rhyming with 'match'), not like the composer Bach (/bɑːx/).
As a verb, it is quite rare and old-fashioned. You might hear it from older speakers. As a noun in New Zealand, it is very common and current.
While historically associated with men (from 'bachelor'), the verb can be applied to anyone living alone temporarily in a basic way. The female equivalent 'spinster it' is not used.